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Frequently asked questions by juniors
(and some sophomores) applying to medical school
- When can I apply to medical school?
- How many medical schools should I apply to?
- What does the application consist of?
- I received a Freshman Forgiveness F during my freshman year. Do I need to report this grade?
- I have used the Repeat Option for a class. Do I need to report the original grade?
- I heard it’s rolling admissions to all medical schools. If that’s true, isn’t it better for me to apply early?
- I received a secondary and I have not received my MCAT score yet; Can I assume this medical school must really be interested in me?
- When should I take the MCAT? Is it better to take the MCAT in April, so I can apply sooner?
- What’s a good MCAT score?
- How many letters of recommendation do I need?
- When and how do I send my letters of recommendation to the medical schools?
- I heard the Case School of Medicine no longer likes Case undergraduate students. Is this true?
- I do not have any research experience; Will this weaken my application?
- I do not have any clinical volunteer experience; Will this weaken my application?
- How important is an interview?
When can I apply to medical school?
AMCAS opens up its on-line application on May 1st. Primary applications can be sent out starting June 1st. Applicants can start and stop their application at any point, as many times as necessary, before sending their application.
How many medical schools should I apply to?
The average student applies to 10 medical schools. At Case, most students apply to 10-14 schools.
What does the application consist of?
There are 2 applications; the primary and the secondary. The primary is completed through the AMCAS website. It consists of your personal statement, where you write about why you want to become a physician. It also asks you to provide the grades for every course you have ever taken at Case or any other higher education institution. (Please note, students must report grades that may have been concealed by the Repeat Option.) You are also asked to list extracurricular activities you have been involved with as an undergraduate student. The same primary application is sent to all the medical schools you decide to apply to. If a medical school decides to send an applicant a secondary application, it usually arrives 4-6 weeks after the primary application has been submitted. It typically includes several essay questions. Applicants are also asked to submit their letters of recommendation with their secondary application. Typically, there is a time limit as time when applicants must return their secondary. Northwestern has traditionally had the quickest turn around time, 1 week.
I received a Freshman Forgiveness F during my freshman year. Do I need to report this grade?
Yes, you should include this grade in your application but as a “No Pass” since it did not count against your GPA.
I have used the Repeat Option for a class. Do I need to report the original grade?
Yes, all medical schools require that you report all earned evaluative letter grades, even if the original grade is concealed on your transcript via the Repeat Option.
I heard it’s rolling admissions to all medical schools. If that’s true, isn’t it better for me to apply early?
Yes, it is rolling admissions; but applying early at the expense of taking the MCAT ill prepared, or not including a significant research or volunteer experience as part of your application, will do more harm than good. Many people who take the August MCAT, meaning their application won’t be officially evaluated until early October, get into medical school.
I received a secondary and I have not received my MCAT score yet; Can I assume this medical school must really be interested in me?
If you receive a secondary before taking the MCAT, you can assume the medical school looked upon your academic record and primary application favorably. Most likely they will not make a complete and final evaluation of your application until they receive your MCAT score. Some medical schools are more judicious than others in sending out secondary applications.
When should I take the MCAT? Is it better to take the MCAT in April, so I can apply sooner?
Not necessarily. The best time to take the MCAT is when you feel you will do your best. If taking it in August improves your chances of earning a higher score, take it in August.
What’s a good MCAT score?
An overall score of a 28 marks the beginning of the “land of respectability”. A 30 will be considered a solid score at most state institutions. A 33-35 will be considered a strong score even among the private medical schools. A 36-39 is an excellent score and a 40 and higher will greatly help your application at even the most competitive medical schools in the country.
How many letters of recommendation do I need?
At least three, with two coming from science based faculty members. We recommend at least one letter come from a science class instructor. It is okay to ask a science faculty member who served as a research supervisor for you to write a letter as a science faculty member. The remaining letter can come from anyone. I suggest asking someone who can speak to your humanitarian based commitment to medicine. This will provide the medical schools with a more comprehensive picture of you.
When and how do I send my letters of recommendation to the medical schools?
Interfolio (a credential service supported by The Career Center) will send off your letters of recommendation for you upon request.
You should see that Interfolio obtains the original letters of recommendation by providing the recommender with a waiver and corresponding envelope. Interfolio will then be able to send out copies of all of your letters to the medical schools of your choice. You will not need your letters of recommendation until you submit your secondary applications.
I heard the Case School of Medicine no longer likes Case undergraduate students. Is this true?
This is not true. However, in the past (because Case SOM accepted state funding) it reserved about half of its incoming class (roughly 60-65 slots) for Ohio state residents. Because Case SOM no longer relies on state funding it has done away with its Ohio quota and opens all of its spots to the entire country. In the past, because most Case undergraduates were from Ohio, it appeared that Case SOM “liked” Case undergraduates. Now Case undergraduates are competing against the entire country for a spot in the SOM, which has increased the level of competition.
I do not have any research experience; Will this weaken my application?
Not all medical schools require research experience. But if you are applying to a medical school that is a major contributor to medical research, you would be best served having research experience. Case SOM strongly recommends its’ applicants that they have research experience. A large part of this is due to the fact that the Case SOM now requires the completion of a research thesis.
I do not have any clinical volunteer experience; Will this weaken my application?
Yes, most medical schools want to see that you have spent a significant amount of time around sick people. This indicates two things; you know what it’s like to be around sick people and you have a strong desire to help others. A 4.0 GPA student with a 40 MCAT who has not volunteered at a hospital or spent any time in clinical setting, will greatly weaken, if not destroy their application.
How important is an interview?
Very important. If you are invited for an interview you can confidently assume the medical school is very interested in you. They like your application on paper, now they want to get to know you better and see if you would be a good fit with their student body and faculty. During your interview, you will most likely meet with 2 faculty or admission committee members, spend time with current students, and receive a tour of the medical school and its’ facilities. The Career Center offers the opportunity to participate in mock interviews to help you prepare for this important aspect of the medical school application process.
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